The Preview: LSU Football Hosts the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 11

The Tigers and the Tide prepare for a clash in Death Valley in a battle to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race.

Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) reacts before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images / Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 15 LSU (6-2) and No. 11 Alabama (6-2) will meet in Tiger Stadium for a consequential early November showdown on Saturday night in Death Valley.

Kickoff is set for 6:49 p.m. CT on ABC. Chris Fowler (pxp), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

The iconic College Gameday show will also be in attendance and set up in the Quad on LSU’s campus. It will mark the 14th time College Gameday appears in Baton Rouge and the Tigers hold a record of 7-6 in those instances. It will be the 12th time LSU and Alabama meet when College Gameday is in town. 

“We’re excited about having them here,” said head coach Brian Kelly. “Certainly, it’s great for the community and our campus. The exposure does a great deal for the entire identity of Baton Rouge, the state of Louisiana and LSU.”

The Tigers are coming off a disappointing defeat to Texas A&M in College Station, but as it currently stands, everything is still in front of LSU with a five-way tie atop the conference for first place. There’s a lot still at stake – as is with every LSU-Alabama matchup, and narratives continue to swirl across the country. But for Coach Kelly and his team, nothing else matters than putting together a complete effort that will capture a critical victory at home. 

“We’re much more focused on playing four quarters of football,” Kelly said. “All that other stuff is out there, but it doesn’t help us relative to what we do. This is about playing our best when our best is needed.”

#LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier has seen both sides of the rivalry against Alabama.

He was on the sidelines while his father was the QBs coach in Tuscaloosa.

Now, it’s about cementing a “core memory” of his own.

“I’ve seen both sides of this. I’m thankful I’m on the right side now.” pic.twitter.com/sfQhDG6QI5

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) November 6, 2024

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier enters Saturday’s contest ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 8 in the FBS in passing touchdowns with 20. In nine career starts, Nussmeier has thrown for at least two touchdowns eight times and his 328.4 passing yards per game ranks No. 2 in the league and No. 5 nationally. 

Although in a losing effort, redshirt sophomore receiver Aaron Anderson continued to flash last Saturday by leading the team in receiving with 126 yards and a touchdown on three catches. Junior receiver Kyren Lacy posted an impressive showing with 106 yards on five catches.

Defensively, linebackers Whit Weeks and Greg Penn have been instrumental to the improvements all year long under first-year coordinator Blake Baker. Weeks has totaled 75 tackles, 7.0 for loss, with 2.5 sacks, while Penn has tallied 59 tackles of his own. Defensive ends Bradyn Swinson (8 sacks, 10.5 TFL, 2 FF) and Sai’vion Jones (4.5 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR) have the most impact plays for the Tiger defense.

“The keys to success are pretty obvious: taking care of the football,” Kelly said. “We’ll have to have better balance offensively. Defensively, stopping the quarterback will be paramount.”

Alabama is led by junior quarterback Jalen Milroe, who has accounted for 1,937 yards through the air for 13 touchdowns. Milroe posted a standout performance vs. LSU in 2023 with four total touchdowns and 155 yards with his legs, while also passing for 219.

Freshman wideout Ryan Williams has taken college football by storm with 702 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, averaging 20.1 yards per catch on 35 receptions this season. Defensively, the Tide are led by linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, who led the team in tackles with 66 each.

“Probably as balanced of a team that we’re going to play this year, in terms of talent level across the board,” Kelly said Monday. “There’s no weaknesses in my eyes.”

(Via LSU Release)

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